New bilateral contracts with EU: Cassis satisfied, Brussels suspicious

Secret: Foreign Minister Ignazio presents the new EU contracts. And new studies say: Without bilateral, Switzerland loses CHF 2500 per head and year. Brussels meanwhile remains suspicious.

Sometimes Minister Ignazio Cassis said: « It is a trade contract and he is in our interest. » It was the shortest possible summary of an epic press conference on Friday afternoon in the media center. Of course, it also dealt with a business of epic expression: 1800 pages include the documents on the new EU contracts. There are 32 legal adjustments in Switzerland, cohesion payments, participation in EU research cooperation, the control of immigration and the access of Swiss companies to the EU internal market with 450 million consumers.

From the Federal Council’s point of view, there were three dimensions in the center, explained FDP Federal Councilor Cassis: « The security, prosperity and independence. » Security because, especially in times of global instability, reliable relationships with the neighbors are essential. The prosperity is promoted because Switzerland as a small, export -oriented economy « earns every second franc abroad », with the EU as the most important trading partner. And after all, Switzerland also gains independence: thanks to the specified protective clause in the agreement on the free movement of people, Switzerland has the opportunity to control immigration under certain conditions.

New studies are intended to prove the value of the contracts

Cassis was the only member of the government to take the media, which surprised in view of the scope of the business. He was accompanied by chief negotiator Patric Franzen and a whole swarm of state secretaries and top officials who were supported by numbers, data and arguments. They were all involved in the negotiations with Brussels – and so the press conference sometimes had trains from a diplomatic performance show. It was not without pride that the federal officials pointed out in which areas the negotiation goals were achieved. In short: practically everywhere.

The positive balance was underpinned with five new studies. One of them shows the economic benefits of the contracts. It calculates what risks Switzerland if the bilateral contracts with the EU are eliminated and Switzerland becomes an ordinary third country for the EU: in 2045, Switzerland gave income of CHF 26.4 billion, GDP was 4.9 percent lower. « This corresponds to a loss of income of CHF 2500 per capita, » says the federal papers.

Köppel’s appearance at the press conference

The media professionals felt on the tooth for the consistently positive impression that Cassis and his fellow campaigners spread. Some with factual questions about individual dossiers. Others – such as Weltwoche editor -in -chief Roger Köppel – with elongated contributions to discussion that resulted in rhetorical questions.

Of course, there was not much new to know. After the negotiating mandate had already been made public and various members of the government had informed on topics such as wage protection, coordination procedure, immigration protection clause in recent weeks, most of it was already known.

Therefore, here in a gathered form the substance of the contract package:

The stabilization part: This consolidates the previous bilaterals. It affects the dynamic transfer of legal law when the EU issues new laws and determines how disputes between Bern and Brussels are settled.

New agreements in three areas: Electricity, health and food safety.

Free movement: Switzerland takes over the EU Union Citizens’ Directive, but with exceptions and security. So immigration is still like a labor market -oriented, if you don’t have a job, you must not come. And if you are unemployed, you have to strive for a job, otherwise Switzerland can show him. It can also identify convicted criminals from the EU, according to the deportation initiative.

Protective clause: The existing protective clause for immigration is specified in the free movement agreement: If the immigration from the EU increases, Switzerland can take countermeasures in a short time. New legislative provisions are intended to regulate the conditions under which Switzerland can actually restrict the free movement of people with the EU.

Wage protection: The Swiss wage protection with controls by the social partners is contractually secured, the federal government does not have to take over in the EU. In addition, the Federal Council has put together a package of measures with the social partners and the cantons.

Switzerland’s cohesion contribution to the EU: Since 2007, Switzerland has been transferred to the EU Gelder – totally 2.6 billion francs so far. From 2030 and 2036, CHF 350 million a year should be transferred, significantly more than before.

More elements: Among other things, new rules for state aid and a legal framework that secures Switzerland to participate in the Horizon research program, the student exchange program Erasmus and other EU programs. In addition, the Federal Council wants to strengthen political exchange with the EU.

In domestic policies, several points are highly controversial- they are likely to be in the center of the voting:

Dynamic legal transfer: Switzerland promises to adopt new EU law in the field of bilateral contracts, but not automatically: « Parliament and people keep the last word, » said Cassis.

Compensation measures: However, if the Swiss people say no to the transfer of new EU law, the EU can take compensation measures. These must be proportionate and can be challenged at the parity arbitral tribunal. Critics say that the threat of compensation measures limits the freedom of voting in Switzerland.

Electricity: The new contract should give Switzerland better access to the EU power market and thus strengthen security of supply. This is associated with the opening of the electricity market for private customers. While the Federal Council expects lower electricity costs, trade union boss Pierre-Yves Maillard warns that the electricity will be more expensive in the long term with the agreement.

Brussels blocks the most important agreement

By October, parties and associations can now comment on the contract package. The Federal Council wants to say goodbye to the message in early 2026, after which the parliament leans over the contracts. In the end there will be a referendum.

Although the EU will not give its most important means of pressure up to the end: the most important agreement for Switzerland, the one to abolish trade barriers, will only be brought up to date when the people have said yes to the package – « As soon as both sides have completed their ratification procedures », as it says on the EU website.